Craig Melvin’s ‘Groundhog Day’ Meteorologist Joke Earns Awkward Laugh from Al Roker

Al Roker wasn’t too impressed with Craig Melvin’s Groundhog Day joke.

On Today show on Friday, Melvin, 44, joked with his co-host, 69, about the meteorologist’s accuracy — but Roker wasn’t too happy with his joke.

After Punxsutawney Phil predicted spring would come early this year on Friday morning, Melvin and Roker briefly discussed the news on air.

“He didn’t see a shadow,” Melvin said at the beginning of the segment. “That’s right folks, that means early spring is on its way again, according to Punxsutawney Phil.”

“Yeah, and there are a number of sidekicks around the country, other wannabe groundhogs,” Roker began. “Look, this is the only 21st time he hasn’t seen the shadow. He’s seen it 137 times. But the accuracy rate is about 40% of groundhogs.”

“Forty percent… that’s it? You could be a meteorologist!” Melvin joked.

The rocker gave an exaggeratedly slow laugh and replied in a falsely cheerful tone, “Oh, you’re so funny, Craig . . .”

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On Groundhog Day, several people waited to see what the famous groundhog would see when it came out of its hole. It was announced that Phil had not seen his shadow for the first time in two years.

If Phil rises from his lair and no longer sees his shadow, there will still be an extra six weeks of winter.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, animal meteorologists seem to get the weather right less than half of the time, 40% of the time. Over the past 10 years, Phil has only predicted correctly 30% of the time.

Craig Melvin and Al Roker February 2, 2024

Today’s Show/ Instagram

Groundhog Day 2024: Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring

The long-standing ritual began when the Roman legions brought the tradition to the Germanic tribes, who concluded that if the sun appeared on Candlemas Day and a hedgehog cast a shadow, another six weeks of bad weather would follow.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania. The first Groundhog Day was published in a newspaper in 1886, according to the Punxsutawney Ground Club. The following year, the first official walk to Gobbler’s Farm began and soon a centuries-old tradition began.

Groundhog Club leader AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather forecasting groundhog, during the 138th Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

AP Photo/Barry Reeger

According to Pennsylvania’s tourism website, the event annually draws about 30,000 visitors to Punxsutawney (whose general population is about 5,700), while millions watch it on television or online.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education